How can I compete with the pros? Tournaments and otherwise...

[snowranger]

Charter boats have soooo many advantages over recreational fishermen. I have fished on quite a few and am always learning. About 6 or 7 years ago I started fishing on private boats and really caught the bug. We started tournament fishing 4 or 5 years ago and now I finally have my own boat! The problem is I feel so outgunned against the big boys. The first picture below is a typical big boat. The second is my cockpit.

First there is information. The network of captains and mates sharing tips, techniques, locations, and other resources may be the biggest advantage the pros have. They speak in code and even have special channels on their radios (and sat phones) to pass the info to each other.

Then there is the practice (which brings skill). Charters have 7 days a week to fish if they have trips. Weather days aren't that big of a deal because they can always fish the day the wind lays down. Not to mention many of you charter captains and mates were born in the cockpit of a boat!

Next there is the equipment. Beginning with the number of rods and reels in various sizes. Charter operations have a mix of 130, 80, 50 and 25/30 pound class outfits to best match the targeted species. Lures and baits are professionally and properly rigged. Gaffs of evry size, fliers, tailers, harpoons. Downriggers, outriggers, upriggers, center riggers, kites, sniper rods, planer setups, dredges, teasers...Rigging station.

And of course the boat. Big, diesel, top of the line electronics, dialed in fish raising machine.

Finally, the crew. Captain that can find fish, work an area and get bites by knowing what speed to troll, which direction to pull the baits in relation to the seas. Mate who can rig perfectly swimming hoos with his eyes closed and sets the spread to maximize the presentation. Captain that knows how to back down, turn on or otherwise help the angler best battle the fish. Mate that knows how much pressure you can put on a leadered fish, when to let go and when to take and execute the gaff shot.

Put it all together and you have a well oiled fishing machine.

Now there is me. Your average recreational fisherman. Fish offshore 20-25 days a year. Fish a 29 foot diesel with a decent crew mostly on the weekends. Have four 30lb class outfits, four 50lb class outfits and a couple 20lb class spinners. Tower, double spreader outriggers, 2 gaffs, a couple spreader bars and plenty of witches/lures. I usually run a 7 or 9 rod spread with a mix of islander type lures with meat, seawitches, jet heads, squid chains, and naked hoos, spreader bars, green machines. A bait cooler with a bait tray and a couple of buckets!

While I am able to go out and put a few fish in the boat, I am going to get outfished by the pros every time. I don't think I am going to be entering a tournament on my boat for a very long time. Nonetheless, I would like to maximize my catching when I am out there and "practice" until I am comfortable laying some $ on the line.

So I have some improvements that I have been considering and am looking to prioritize my efforts to maximize my success next year. Here is what I have come up with:

1. Add teaser reels. Thinking about the setup pictured below.
2. Learn how to run a planer effectively off of a cleat.
3. Get a dredge and somehow to run it effectively.

These are my top three for this offseason. What else can an 'Average Joe' like myself do to improve my success and close to gap to the pros?

Get the 'secret' chanels installed in my VHF?
Spend more time walking the docks?
Spend more time on charters?
Put electronics on the tower so I can spend more time up there?
Install downriggers?
Upgrade electronics?
Switch to bass fishing? Just kidding.

Seriously, what would you say "is the single best thing you can do to improve your boat/fishing"?
Any thoughts are appreciated...!

[pitch bait]

Your best invetment would be WAHOONBOX fishing school. Not to sound like a smart ASS but it eliminates ten years of learning and trial and error. I took it in 1998 and graduated.

[Bluewater Sportfishing]

For what its worth..... I don't care what kinda boat..electronics...rods...reels....etc etc you have or dont have. the one thing thats above all else is fishing where the fish are....everything comes after that.
so my advice to you is this:
learn to read the water look for rip lines, birds or a bird feeding. look for slicks on the surface with birds feeding. upwellings and baitfish. Find the bait find the fish. Learn how to read temp charts and currents. ask your self questions like why is the water moving that way will it effect the bait will it move the fish further north or south...find a spot that looks productive and work it..if nothing go hunting for a new spot. just dont go where the fleet is.
Think about the cold and hot sides of an eddie and what they mean with the predator/prey relationship.
I would suggest calling a good captain in your area and ask him to take you out and teach you what he looks for. this will cost a bit but is well worth it as you can see what he's looking at in real time. Then after that take a class with marty. Learn to rig the right way. if you are a good rigger then this will add to your skills.
hope this helps.

from what I see in your electronics box I would upgrade to a new unit..
for starters install a 1000 watt transducer and a new fishfinder. you need to see the bait

[Patudo]

That's the difference between the professional and the amateur. It's like the difference between the average litigant in person versus a top trial lawyer, or even the difference between a small or even a medium-sized commercial practice and a major corporate law powerhouse. Unless you can make an equal commitment in time and money, attempting to be competitive against professionals with superior boat capabilities, equipment as well as most importantly the experience, ability and networking to utilize all the above to maximum effect is a hopeless exercise. Now this doesn't mean that you shouldn't study and analyze how the top charter and private tournament boats go about finding, hooking and fighting their fish because there is a great deal that can be learned from them. But they're just not going to be a realistic benchmark for you. Setting realistic goals ie bench marking yourself against other vessels/teams of your size range and capability will result in less disappointment.

I think the biggest thing most private guys can be competitive is to sharpen up their ability to find the fish. Analyzing and identifying the best fishing areas based on temperature and bottom structure, putting together (and being able to follow) a coherent game plan versus the follow the crowd mentality and so on. Being able to access and utilize satellite data is likely vital in your area. Understanding the bottom structures in your fishing area is almost always vital for success. Effective use of electronics will also likely make a big difference. Most modern electronics are highly effective in the hands of a competent user. Besides understanding and using the electronics well, the most productive skippers almost invariably also have the discipline to use every fish finding weapon at their disposal all day long. Now obviously a professional skipper is not fishing for fun, as a paid professional he is going to be devoting his full concentration on finding the fish. You as a recreational fishermen may decide not to be so intense, especially after you boxed a couple of nice fish. But I like fishing like this. It's actually hard to get bored because you are always working and always thinking.

The second area where many private boaters I've seen can improve is in rigging and fishing skills and techniques. This knowledge is best acquired by learning first hand from a source like the Box's fishing school, or on board a good charter boat. Most private boaters I've seen have tackle and all the assorted other toys that is normally more than adequate to do the job, but it isn't always put together well, or used effectively. Conversely a skilled fisherman can be very effective with just a handful of basic rigs employed effectively. A skilled tutor can dramatically shorten the learning curve here. The more really good fishermen you can fish with and learn from the more you will benefit. Besides gaining proficiency in actual rigging and technique it is also important to be able to understand why said technique is being employed and apply what you have learned to your own fishery, vessel and situation. I know every single day I'm able to fish that I'm still learning...

There is lots more that can be discussed. but most of the time if you can keep in mind the basic fundamentals of success and attempt to fulfil them to the best of your abilities you should be able to do OK by yourself. As a lawyer you will be skilled in interpretation and analysis of complex concepts and facts, applying that critical thought process to the problems of finding the fish will in time bring you results.

[Hallnass282]

Dude the first time we walked the docks of the WMO we had NEWBIE written across our foreheads.Two younger guys and a 12 year old kid that went out and caught some tuna ... never even seen a marlin besides the ones hanging in harbour island.We made up our minds that we were getting in it next year.We caught out first two Whites the weekend before the tournament and then caught our third on the first day two more on day two and one marlin on the last day we fished.Were simple 28 grady with outboards ... all the canyon equip 7 50 pound outfits and 1 80 we got tackle out the ass and learned to rig baits.We got a guy with CP that sits in the cocapts bench and my pop who was in an industrial accident in a wheelchair strapped in the back.Dont let the BIG BOYS put you down if you stick to your plan and be consistant you can outfish anyone.The year Canyon Express brought in the winning white .. or coulda been knocked lower I totally forget ... we were 450 yards off his port side backing down on one when we realized he had slung one in and packed up and took off for the scales.

Box is incredible ... I have never met the man or anythign but from what I read on this site he has forgot more than Ill probably ever know.Ill be looking into this school deal.

[WhiteMarlin]

there's a ton of excellent crews always looking for jobs....if your pocketbook permits...think about hiring a professional captain and/or mate?

[Rhodekill]

We fished Pirates Cove a couple years ago and tried to come up with a plan before the tourny. All I could think of was to follow Arch Bracher wherever he went. The crew did not like that idea for whatever reason so we went out on our own. We had 1 big blue come undone and killed a blue that was short for the rules.

Arch released like 17 fish and won 580k.

[hotshot1]

I have had a similar question brewing also. I am just stepping up to the big time and was wondering what are my realistic chance of placing in a big tournament? Last time I was out with my buddies we thought 1% of winning.

[Patudo]

Money tournaments are pretty much a means for top crews to take money away from those not so good. Unless you can bring equal skill to the table it's like playing pool against a pool shark or poker against a professional poker player. That's probably the main reason for the kill/big fish prizes. The average fisherman has more chance of crossing paths with a single large fish than attempting to beat a skilled team in release numbers or points.

[floridadeckie]

blue water said it best. you can have to highest paid, most talented crew along with the best gear, baits, electronics, strippers, etc... that money can buy. If you dont know how to find the fish, you wont catch but maybe the odd loner. You dont have to have a massive battlewagon to catch fish and/or place in a tournament. you just have to know your fish. know how it thinks, where it likes to be and what it likes to eat. study your charts, bottom machine, and temp gauge. get a really good pair of binocs to glass the water for birds, debris, what have you. if you start doubting yourself now before you get in the game, you are already behind the eight ball. learn, practice, learn some more, study your charts, practice some more, you get the picture.